Rachel Crist, right, leads skaters through a drill at the Mid-State Sisters of Skate roller derby 'Fresh Meat' event Thursday at the Boys & Girls Club of Portage County gym in Plover.

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| By B.C. Kowalski
| Stevens Point Journal Media

A line of women took a few skating strides down a tiled gym floor, skid to a near stop on a padded knee and then popped onto their feet, ready to do it again.

The drill was one of many taught by veteran skaters with the Mid-State Sisters of Skate roller derby league to new recruits trying roller derby for the first time Thursday at the Boys & Girls Club of Portage County in Plover. People involved in the league said the first-time event is a better way to introduce new skaters into the rough-and-tumble sport of roller derby, which has inspired people to create new leagues across the country.